A new study discovered just by consuming a glass of green juice or smoothie that contains spinach, prior to breakfast, you could significantly reduce cravings and stay fuller longer.

Charlotte Erlanson-Albertsson, lead author and professor of Medicine and Physiological Chemistry at Lund University, found a spinach extract containing green leaf membranes called thylakoids decreases hedonic hunger by 95 percent, while increasing weight loss by 43 percent. Hedonic hunger is defined as eating for pleasure versus eating to satisfy biological needs. It is also one of the causes of obesity and unhealthy eating habits.

The analysis, which ran for a three-month period, included 38 women who were overweight. In the morning participants consumed a green drink. The experimental group was given five grams of the spinach extract, while the controlled group was given a placebo. All participants were unaware of what group they belonged to. In addition, researchers instructed all participants to eat three balanced meals a day as well as to refrain from any diet.

“In the study, the control group lost an average of 3.5 kg while the group that was given thylakoids lost 5 kg. The thylakoid group also found that it was easier to stick to three meals a day— and they did not experience any cravings,” she said.

Thylakoids helps to produce a feeling of satiety, which minimizes an individual’s desire to snack.